IU guard has 3rd injury in 22 months

IU Athletics released a statement Monday announcing that junior guard Maurice Creek underwent surgery to repair a torn Achilles. The University said the incident occurred “away from the court” and that Creek’s status for this season is still undetermined.

“This is a devastating blow for someone who has worked so hard to get himself in a position to help this program again,” IU Coach Tom Crean said in the official release. “He is going to receive the best medical care possible, and we will take his recovery one day at a time. I think the most important thing that we can do is to make Maurice know that despite his injury, he can serve a very vital role in helping our program, and we will actively keep him involved every day.”

Creek, who underwent his third major surgery in the last 22 months, was still recovering from a right patella fracture. He has played in 30 games for the Hoosiers after averaging 16.4 points per game as a freshman.

After leading all freshmen in scoring through the first nine games of the 2009-10 season, Creek’s career took a sudden halt.

Creek broke his left patella in December 2009 and fractured his right patella last January.

According to IU Athletics, Creek has not officially been ruled out for the entire season. The 6-foot-5-inch guard had resumed basketball activity prior to the Achilles surgery but was not expected to be in uniform at the start of the season.

Within minutes of the official news release by IU Athletics, the IU guard was trending nationally on Twitter.

Though Creek won’t be on the IU sidelines anytime soon, he has the support of his head coach.

“All of our energy is devoted to Maurice in helping him through this latest setback,” Crean said in the official release. “I know he and his family have always appreciated the thoughts and prayers they receive from Hoosier Nation.”

— Connor O’Gara